Light rail in downtown Denver is slated to receive major upgrades. The Regional Transportation District (RTD) in Denver is moving forward with an overhaul of downtown sections of the light rail system, launching a procurement process for the remaining phases of its Downtown Rail Reconstruction Project. The multi-phase project, estimated at $152 million, will rebuild aging rail infrastructure throughout Denver’s central corridor.
The project’s first phase began in May 2024 and finished ahead of schedule in September. It focused on replacing 30-year-old tracks at five key intersections in the downtown loop. This initial phase involved full-depth reconstruction, including the replacement of existing rail, concrete, ties and ballast along RTD’s original light rail line.
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In a press release, Debra Johnson, RTD’s general manager and chief executive officer, said, “managing and maintaining assets in a state of good repair ensures the long-term integrity of the rail network for all individuals who entrust RTD to connect them with their destinations.”
The RTD system is among many metropolitan mass transit networks that have struggled to return to pre-pandemic ridership peaks. Public transit systems also face similar challenges of maintaining and upgrading aging infrastructure.
Upgrades can help preserve systems for longer and improve the rider’s experience, but service disruptions from construction also run the risk of reducing ridership. With its multiphase process and the forthcoming selection of a contractor, RTD is hoping to streamline the construction so riders see the benefits as quickly as possible.
For the remaining work, RTD will combine early contractor involvement with traditional design-build methods. This two-phase process allows RTD and the selected design-build team to collaboratively develop the final design, schedule and budget, potentially accelerating the project timeline and reducing disruptions to the transportation that many commuters rely on.
The remaining three phases of the project will begin in 2025, with work potentially occurring simultaneously across different areas. With phase one completed, phase two will focus on midblock reconstruction in the Downtown Loop. Phase three will tackle reconstruction along the Colfax Avenue alignment, and phase four will upgrade the Welton Street corridor
During construction, RTD will reroute D and H line trains to Denver Union Station and temporarily suspend L Line service, which connects 30th•Downing Station to the Downtown Loop. No light rail service will operate in RTD’s central corridor until the reconstruction is complete.
The agency is currently accepting proposals through its online procurement portal, with submissions due in February 2025. RTD expects to select a contractor in April. In the following step, the agency plans to launch a comprehensive marketing and communications campaign to inform customers about service impacts.
Photo courtesy FoamingInDenver, CC0, via Wikimedia Commons
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